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Targeted Therapy and Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer

Briana Kinnel1, Santosh Kumar Singh1, Gabriela Oprea-Ilies2

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA.

Cancers
|February 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug resistance (MDR) hinders breast cancer (BC) treatment by involving mechanisms like drug efflux and tumor microenvironment (TME). This review explores BC resistance, identifies drug targets, and links them to disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality in women globally.
  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) significantly impedes effective BC treatment strategies.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying multidrug resistance in breast cancer.
  • To identify novel and viable therapeutic drug targets for overcoming BC resistance.
  • To correlate these drug targets with breast cancer progression and resistance development.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of recent studies on breast cancer resistance.
  • Analysis of molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to drug resistance.
  • Identification and evaluation of potential therapeutic targets based on current research.

Main Results:

  • Drug resistance in BC is multifactorial, involving increased drug efflux, DNA repair, senescence escape, epigenetic changes, tumor heterogeneity, TME interactions, and EMT.
  • Several molecular targets show promise for overcoming MDR, including those involved in efflux pumps, DNA repair pathways, and EMT signaling.
  • These targets are intricately linked to tumor progression and the development of resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting specific pathways involved in MDR mechanisms offers a promising strategy to improve breast cancer treatment efficacy.
  • Further research into these targets and their role in BC progression is warranted.
  • Developing novel therapeutic approaches that address the multifaceted nature of BC resistance is essential.
Keywords:
CDK4/6HER2MDRPTK6Wnt/β-cateninaryl hydrocarbon receptordrug resistanceiNOS

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